Rotary Club of Milwaukee Tuesday Speaker Series

After three decades, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce has a new leader, Dale Kooyenga. Dale joined MMAC in January in the newly created role of senior vice president as the regional economic development and their board began planning for the retirement of his predecessor, Tim Sheehy, who had led MMAC since 1992.

Rotarians heard Dale's story and the results of his conversations with over a hundred CEOs this past year. Dale also shared what he has heard from these conversations and shared how his experiences in business, politics and the military have shaped his perspective and leadership style.

At breakfast this week, Rotarians heard from Christa Beall Diefenbach, Executive Director of Friends of the Domes. Christa shared the history of Friends of the Domes as well as their plan to identify a solution for the Domes that addresses the building's physical limitations, revitalizes Mitchell Park, and supports a business model that is sustainable.

Ingeteam, a team made up of more than 4,500 people in 21 countries, is convinced that there is a different way of generating, transporting, storing and consuming energy in a more efficient and sustainable way. The energy transition is no longer the future, it is the present, and to face this challenge, they plan to help build a world in which energy production is clean.

On U.N. Day, we celebrated the 78th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations with Danielle Brian, President of the Project on Government Oversight. Danielle discussed how we can bring to life the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goal of peace, justice, and strong institutions. Central to successfully meeting that goal is the need to substantially reduce corruption in all its forms, and to develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels of government.

It is hard to talk about historic preservation in Milwaukee without recognizing the work of Matt Jarosz, professor at UWM's School of Architecture and Urban Planning. Matt approaches historic preservation from both the philosophical and technical perspective. Matt shared stories of local preservation efforts that worked and not worked—all which play a role in creating the architectural landscape of Milwaukee today.

Reince Priebus is the Chairman of the MKE 2024 Host Committee, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with the mission to work on behalf of the City of Milwaukee, its businesses, and residents, ensuring that the 2024 Republican National Convention has all the necessary tools for a successful event. Priebus shared to Rotarians an update on the 2024 convention, the Host Committee's role, and what attendees can expect in Milwaukee next summer

Rotarians heard from Taylor Korslin of Rethink 794, a volunteer group advocating to replace a stretch of elevated Interstate-794 with at-grade streets to better connect Downtown with the Third Ward and Lakefront. Taylor discussed the timely debate, WisDOT's potential options, and elaborated on the merits of rethinking Interstate-794.

Did you know that the Rotary Club of Milwaukee has facilitated over $1 million of projects in the highlands of Guatemala since 2010? In partnership with Engineer without Borders, our club's efforts have resulted in the construction of ten water systems, five pedestrian bridges and three schools. Also, working with the Alliance for Smiles, surgery was performed on Guatemalan 33 children with cleft anomalies. Rotarian Kathy Ehley conducted a conversation with fellow Rotarians Jerry Stepaniak, Eric Isbister and Paige Radke, all veteran Guatemalan travelers.

On Tuesday, September 19th Mike Nichols, President of the Badger Institute spoke on "Why Wisconsin Needs a Flat Tax." Wisconsin is the home of the first progressive income tax. Do we really want to abandon our roots? Aren't flat taxes just schemes to help the rich? Are we shifting the burden to those who need help the most?

Dana Guthrie is the Managing Partner of Gateway Capital, a Milwaukee based venture capital firm which seeks overlooked emerging entrepreneurial opportunities that traditionally lack venture capital investment. The firm's objective is to exceed national average returns for their investors and create a stronger and self-sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystem. At this luncheon, Dana talks about her background along with the "WHY" and "HOW" of the work that drives her passion.